Dipping apparatus



G. S. HENDRIE DIPPING APPARATUS March 29, 1938.

Filed Feb. 15, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March 29, 1938. G,HENDRlE 2,112,600

DIPPING APPARATUS Filed Feb 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR. 6 50/5/71 /7077? ATTORNEYS March 29, 1938. G 5 HENDRIE DIPPING APPARATUSFiled Feb 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR. 620/ JWZ /VW/Z ATTORNEYSPatented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES DIPPIN G APPARATUS George S.Hendrie, Detroit, 1Vfich., assignor to Detroit Macoid Corporation,Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application February 15, 1936,Serial No. 64,055

5 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dipping articles of hardware,glass and the like in a bath of coating compound in order that a thincoating of the compound will remain on the articles after they areremoved from the bath. The invention is more particularly concerned withthe articles of hardware such as are used on automobiles and has as itsprimary object to provide such articles with a coating that will protectthem from corrosion, such as rusting or tarnishing when they are made ofmetal, to protect them from chemical actions which might cause them todecompose or decay and also for decorative purposes.

An important object of the invention is to provide dipping apparatusconstructed so that the articles to be clipped may be quickly and easilyplaced into the apparatus and removed therefrom after the dippingoperation. In this connection the invention provides for the handling ofthe work in groups.

In the use for which the machine is particularly adapted the articles tobe handled are door handles, window lifts, etc. for automobiles and theinvention further provides a novel support for such articles. Morespecifically, the work supports include resiliently yieldab-le means forfrictionally holding the work during movement through the coating liquidand a further object is to provide means for excluding the liquidcoating compound from contact with the yielding means, this beingdesirable because the coating means would tend to destroy the resiliencyof the yielding means.

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in mattershereinafter more particularly pointed out with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in WhiCh Figure 1 is a front elevation of amultiple tank clipping apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a rotary work supporting frame;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the work supporting frame;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of a work support with an article supportedthereon;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are details of the work support;

Fig. 9 is a section illustrating a modified work support;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10-49 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail of the said modified work support;

Fig. 12 is a cross section illustrating a work support for another formof article;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevation of the latter support.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designatecorresponding parts.

With reference more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown afabricated supporting structure composed of vertical elements I andhorizontal elements 2 supported thereby. Beneath the horizontal elements2 and between ad-- jacent pairs of uprights l are provided tanks 3. Thehorizontal members 2 support reservoirs 4, there being aseparatereservoir 4 above each tank 3. Each reservoir 4 is provided with aconduit 5 leading to its respective tank and a manually operable valve 6is provided in each conduit.

Rotatably supported in the frame structure, preferably by bearingsprovided in or on the up rights 2 is a shaft 7. The shaft 7 extends pastthe entire groups of tanks 3 and is provided with a sprocket 8 on oneend. The sprocket 8 represents means for providing a driving connectionbetween the shaft 1 and a motor, the motor and means for connecting itsdrive shaft to the shaft 7 not being illustrated here because sucharrangements are already well known in the art. Loose- 1y supported bythe shaft 1 adjacent each tank 3 is a pair of arms 9. The free ends ofthe arms 9 extend into their respective tanks and rotatably supported inthe said ends of each pair is a shaft 10. Keyed to each shaft 10 is apair of spaced apart disks H and i2 and also a sprocket l3 which isconnected to a sprocket M on the shaft 7 by a chain l5.

Loosely connected to each end of eachshaft i0 is an arm 15a havingratchet teeth I6 co-operating with dogs I? supported by the uprights 2.The arms 15a are adapted to support the shafts II] in various positionsof adjustment with respect to the tanks 3 as may be more readily seen byreference to Figure 2 and provide a simple and eificient means forholding the arms 9 from fulcruming with respect to the shaft 7 andthereby adapt the device to the handling of different sized articles. Inother words, the position of the shaft in may be changed from that shownin Fig. 2, either by elevating it or lowering it with respect to thetank 3 by manually moving the arms |5a While the ratchet teeth I6 areout of engagement with the dogs 11.

The disks II and I2 are provided with symmetrically arranged series ofapertures 18. Bars I 9 have their opposite ends received in apertures inthe disks H and [2 respectively and are sup ported thereby. Each bar 19has a shoulder 28 Which is urged into engagement with the face of thedisk l2 by a spring 2! which engages the end 22 which projects throughthe aperture in the disk II. In order to remove the bars I 9 they aremoved against the opposition of the springs 2| to withdraw theshouldered end of the bars respect thereto by the band 32.

from their apertures in the disk -|2 and are then moved in a reversedirection to withdraw the ends 22 from the apertures inthe disk I I. Toreplace the bars the order of movements is reversed.

In Figures 4 to 8 inclusive there is shown an article of hardware suchas the operating handle of a windshield regulator. The article isgenerally designated 23 and is provided with a bore 24 entering the sameand reduced in diameter at 25-. When in use the bores 24 and 25 receivethe end of a shaft and a screw or bolt is passed through another bore 26to secure it to the shaft. Each article 23 is individually supportedwith respect to a bar I9 by a rod 21 having one end secured to a bar l9by fastening elements 28. On the other end of the rod 21 is a shoulder29 bearin against one side of a washer 30. On the other side of'thewasher, spring fingers 3| are secured to. the rod by a metal band 32.The spring fingers 3| are preferably of arcuate cross section asillustratedvin Fig. 6 and are formed of a single blank with a unitingportion 33' substantially encircling the end 34 of the rod and securedwith The spring fingers 3| engage the surface of thebore 25"to retainthe article 23 on the rod. On the extremity of the rod end 34' isprovided a project ing part 35 which extends through the bore 26 andcompletely fills the same so as to preclude the coating compound, inwhich the article is later dipped, from entering the bore 25', throughthe bore 26', to contact with the spring fingers 3|. The washer 30'seals the end of the bore 24 to prevent the coating compound fromentering that end.

Figures 9, and 11 illustrate another article of hardware such as ahandle for a window lift operator. This article, which is designated 31has a squared socket 38 for receiving the end of a window lift shaft andhas bores 39 through which securing elements extend to secure the handleon the shaft when the handle is in use on an automobile. 'Ihe supportfor the article 38 comprises a rod 40 which is secured to a bar |9a byfastening means 28a. The rod 46 has a collar 4| supporting a washer 42and secured to'the end of the rod are crossed flat springs 43.

, engage the walls of the bore 38 to frictionally retain the article onthe rod. It will be noted that two of the springs 43 cover the bores'39to prevent the coating compound from entering thesocket 39 when thearticle is dipped and that the washer 42 prevents the coating compoundfrom entering the end of the socket 38.

In Figures 12, 13 and 14 there is illustrated an article 44 whichrepresents another well known type of window lift operator. The handlehas a squared socket 45 for the reception of an operating part of awindow lift mechanism when the device is in use. The handle isordinarily secured to the said operating part bypassing a bolt or screwthrough a bore 46 which is concentric with the socket 45. The supportfor this article comprises a rod 41 having a shoulder 48'backing awasher 49 which is preferably formed of rubber. Secured on the end ofthe rod are crossed spring fingers 56, the fingers being flat andsecured in place by a screw 5| having a semi-spherical head. The springfingers 50 frictionally retain the article 44 on the rod 41 and thesemi-spherical head on the screw 5| seats on theend of the bore 46 Thesprings 43- to prevent the dipping compound from entering the socket 45therethrough when the article is subsequently dipped therein. The otherend of the socket 45 is closed by thewasher 49.

It becomes apparent from the foregoing that a group of articles may beassembled on the bars I9 at one time and the bars l9 assembled in thedisks i and I2 so that a group of articles may be dipped at one time.The springs 2| which yieldably retain the bars IS in their respectiveapertures l8 facilitate removal and replacement of the bars withoutstopping rotation of the disks. It also becomes apparent that thecoating compound is excluded from the bores and sockets in the articlesbeing coated with the result that it is notnecessary to remove the samefrom such sockets and bores after the coating operation has beencompleted.

Although specific embodimentsof'the invention have been illustrated anddescribed it will be understood that various changes may be made withinthe scope of'the appended claims without de-' parting from the spiritofthe invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:-

l. Awork carrier comprising a pair of spaced apart rotatable members,said" members having uniformly spaced apart apertures formed therein,said apertures being of angular shape, work supporting bars havingangular ends disposed in sets of said apertures, said angular openingsand ends positively holding said bars against rotation with respect tosaid rotatable members, andyieldable' means for retaining said bars insaid apertures.

2. A work carrier comprising a pair of spaced apart rotatable members,said members having uniformly spaced apart apertures formed therein,

work supporting bars having their'oppositeends disposed in sets of saidapertures, said ends and apertures being of angular formation wherebythey interlock to hold the bars against rotation with respect to saidrotatable elements, yieldable means for retaining said bars in saidapertures, and means on said bars for receiving work articles, said lastnamed means including yieldable frictional means for retainingthe-articles thereon.

3. A work support for articles havinga socket portion with aperturesleading thereinto, said work support including yieldable means adaptedto be inserted intothe socket part to frictionally engage the same, andmeans on said work support for obstructing the apertures in saidarticle,

said last named means being adapted to close the apertures at theirinner ends.

4. A Work support for articles'having a; socket portion with aperturesleading thereinto, said work support including yieldablemeans adapted tobe inserted into the socket part to frictionally engage the same, andmeans for obstructingthe apertures in said article, said last namedmeans comprising a projecting portion adapted to extend through thesocket and into an aperture in the article;

5. A work support for articles having a socket portion with an apertureleading thereinto, said work support including yieldable means adaptedto be inserted into the'socket part to frictionally engage the same, andmeans for obstructing the aperture in said article, said last namedmeans comprising a part adapted to extend through the socket to seat onthe inner end of the aperture.

GEORGE S. HENDRIE.

